Trust in authorities, a sense of control over one’s environment and behavior, and access to resources influenced adherence to public health and social measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Writing in BMJ Open, experts at Resolve to Save Lives analyzed psychosocial and sociodemographic factors influencing COVID-19 public health and social measure (PHSM) adherence through a cross-sectional survey in 18 African Union countries. We found that women, older adults, and those with higher education showed better adherence to personal measures like mask wearing, while rural residents and those with access to running water adhered more to community measures like gathering restrictions. Trust in hospitals, the president, and knowledge about face masks were reliable predictors of adherence. Our findings underscore the importance of building institutional trust and addressing resource disparities to improve adherence in future public health crises.
